4/2/24 Federal Way, WA – Foot Chase With Two Suspects – One Doubles Back And Steals Patrol Car – Found Abandoned – Vehicle Damaged

April 2, 2024

www.myfox8.com

A Federal Way Police Department (FWPD) patrol vehicle was stolen and dumped in Auburn Tuesday morning.

According to the FWPD, around 4:10 a.m., patrol officers were dispatched to an alarm at a Verizon cell phone tower on the 2100 block of South 324th Street. While there, officers saw two people running through the fenced area around the tower and chased them, police said.

Officers caught one suspect but lost sight of the other, who they believe “doubled back and stole a patrol car that was unoccupied, engine running and unlocked,” a FWPD spokesperson said.

Using GPS, police said they tracked the vehicle to Auburn, where it was unoccupied upon the officers’ arrival. Police said no equipment or weapons were missing from the car. The Auburn Police Department said no one was in custody and the suspect fled on foot. A K-9 unit was involved in the search, police said.

The suspect who was caught was arrested for burglary, according to police.

Officials believe the two men were likely trying to steal copper wire from the cell phone tower.

Later in the day, KOMO News spotted the previously stolen patrol car at the police station, which is now damaged. The patrol vehicle and the suspect’s vehicle will be processed for evidence.